UTDPP1018
Committee on the Core Curriculum

Policy Statement

The Committee on the Core Curriculum is a University Committee of The University of Texas at Dallas appointed by the President.

Committee Charge

The Committee is responsible for overseeing university-wide core curriculum requirements for undergraduate students who complete all or some of their general education coursework in residence at UT Dallas.

The Committee is charged with evaluating existing and newly proposed courses for inclusion in the university's core curriculum. This evaluation includes a periodic review and discussion of lower division courses offered by Texas public colleges, which may be substituted to satisfy a core curriculum requirement at UT Dallas. Prior to recommending any changes, the Committee seeks input from faculty and other interested parties within the university. Resulting recommendations, along with communication of all academic requirements for undergraduate admission and graduation, including transfer admission requirements, are forwarded to the Committee on Educational Policy and to the Provost for final consideration.

The Committee also is responsible for developing a plan to assess the core curriculum based on requirements outlined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The Committee works collaboratively with the Office of Institutional Success and Decision Support (OISDS) and with faculty who are assigned to teach core curriculum courses to ensure the assessment plan is implemented appropriately. Results from the assessment analysis conducted by the Committee and OISDS are disseminated to the Council on Undergraduate Education and Committee on Educational Policy. Suggestions regarding core curriculum improvements are then discussed with the appropriate faculty and committees.

Additionally, the Committee monitors changes and makes recommendations that adhere to state law, THECB rules, UT System guidance, and/or to accreditation standards to ensure continual compliance with external governing requirements.

Membership

The Committee is composed of seven voting members appointed from the faculty. Committee membership is distributed across all schools and shall include non-administrative faculty members who are regularly assigned to teach core curriculum courses. The Chair of the Committee on Educational Policy shall serve ex officio as one of the voting members. The Dean of Undergraduate Education, the University Registrar, the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Advising, the Associate Provost for Curricular Services and THECB Liaison, and a representative from OISDS serve as non-voting, ex-officio members. The Committee also includes four degree-seeking undergraduate students nominated by Student Government as non-voting members, including one lower-division student and one upper-division transfer student. The Chair of the Committee serves ex officio, with a vote, on the Committee on Educational Policy.

Committee members are nominated by the Committee on University Service and appointed by the President. Committee members are appointed to two-year terms, and the Chair and Vice Chair are appointed annually by the President. The terms for appointed members shall be staggered so that no more than one-half of the terms expire in any one year. The President may reappoint members for additional terms. Reappointments for the Chair shall not exceed two consecutive terms. If for any reason a Committee member resigns, the President shall appoint another individual to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

Reporting Requirements

Annually, but no later than August 31, the Chair of the Committee will provide the President with a written report of the Committee's activities for the prior academic year.

Responsible University Official (RUO)

The Dean of Undergraduate Education shall serve as the RUO for this committee.